Beans for Breakfast! 6 Serving Ideas to Start Your Day Off Right

Beans! Beans! The musical fruit, the more you eat, the more you…. 

OK, we don’t need to finish that, but here’s the thing:

Beans are awesome! And for lots of reasons:

• They’re a super delicious, plant-based protein that can be the star of the show or hidden within other flavors. 
• They’re packed with fiber and protein— things that will keep your belly and your blood sugar levels happy.
• They’re crazy cost-effective, which everyone loves.
• They’re far better for the planet than animal proteins, so you’ll be starting your meatless Mondays (and everyday, really) off right!

All of these factors make for a great reason to add them to your breakfast routine.

So, how are you supposed to eat beans for breakfast?

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Here are five ways to introduce them to your day:

1) Roasted chickpeas

This is easily one of my favorite breakfasts on the go. Drain and rinse a can of chickpeas, toss with some olive oil and salt, and roast at 350F for about 20 minutes. Put them in a jar and walk out the door. You can also roast them the night before and pop them in the microwave for 20 seconds with a tablespoon of water. Put the lid back on, shake them up, and they’ll taste fresh out of the oven.

2) Hummus

Have you ever had a bagel with cream cheese AND hummus? If not, you’re missing out. Try different flavors and you’ll be sure to find something you love. Personally, I like a classic tahini hummus on sesame bagels.

3) Smoothies

I know I’m not alone when I say this, but protein powder makes me gag. So when I try to make smoothies for breakfast and I don’t wanna use all sugar-loaded fruit, I throw in a half can of beans. 

A soft, white bean (like cannellini) will lend a creamy texture and won’t raise any eyebrows. The color of black beans will easily be covered if you also include blueberries. Or if you don’t care, use whatever you have on hand. 

Bonus: you don’t even need to rinse them from the can. Ever heard of aquafaba? It’s the liquid in the can and can be whipped to a light texture to make all kinds of vegan desserts, so leave it in and it’ll do nothing but add loft to your liquids!

4) Beans on toast

This British staple may sound strange, but when you try it, you’ll be hooked! Heinz makes a (non-vegetarian) can of beans that I’ve heard is the go-to, but this recipe from The New York Times is simple and straightforward. (Try cannellini beans if heirloom aren’t available.)

5) Beans & rice

I LOVE a hearty dish of beans and rice and can easily have it for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. This recipe for black beans will have me eating for days and is literally about a dollar to make. Too many? Try freezing them in smaller serving sizes.

6) Chilaquiles

Looking for something spicy? Try chilaquiles! I use the same black beans recipe as I do for beans and rice, but serve them over tortilla chips covered in warm salsa verde and sprinkled with cheese crumbles. If you’ve never had it, you’re missing out! 

Do you love beans? What’s your favorite thing about them and what’s your favorite dish? I’m always looking for new things to try and I’d love to hear about it in the comments below!

Happy cooking!

—Melissa, Funky Crunchy Mama